Here in San Antonio, we have dealing with the summer heat down to a science. It’s when the first chill of winter comes, we scurry around getting ready for the next drop under 75°; rushing out to purchase new jackets, long sleeved shirts, and those comfy socks with the grips on the bottom.

Keeping yourself warm isn’t the only think you need to do to get ready for Jack Frost. Your rental home can also do with a little preventative maintenance to keep your property in tip-top shape, and keep renters cozy.

These are just a few tips for winterizing your home for our Texas Snow Days.

Preventative Maintenance on the Heater
By scheduling a yearly check on your heater, including a filter change, you save yourself the risk of much higher repair costs in the future. You can hire a company to come out and check out the system to make sure everything is in working order for the winter months.

Mind the Gaps
Not only do gaps in window frames, door jambs, and vents make for a chilly draft through the home, it’s also the perfect entry point for vermin and pests seeking food and warmth from the cold. Adding a strip of caulking, or weather stripping to these areas will keep the tenants happy with a warm home, and low energy bills, as well as preventing possibly costly pest repairs.

Insulation
Checking to make sure the insulation in the home is still up to par is a good idea at any time of the year. All it takes is getting up in the attic, and checking for any missing or damaged pieces of insulation. Insulation is a key part of keeping any home’s temperature regulated.

Give Your Foliage a Trim
We may not get enough snow in San Antonio to weigh down trees, but we do get ice. With tree limbs and shrubbery close to the home, it’s a good idea to give these a trim to prevent any ice causing existing stress on the branches to break, possibly damaging the home, or even worse, a tenant.

By doing a the simple steps, you can keep your tenants happy, as well as your pocketbook.

Today is Veteran’s day, so remember to thank a Veteran for their service.

It was Woodrow Wilson who announced Armistice day in 1919, when one year prior, fighting officially ended. This was known as the end of the war to end all wars. Seven months later, on June 28th, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, bringing and end to “The Great War.”

Armistice Day was approved May 13, 1938 as a legal holiday. It wasn’t until World War II and subsequent wars, that it was changed to Veteran’s Day, during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, to memorialize all those that have served this country.

“In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”
-President Eisenhower, October 8, 1938

These men and women have given themselves to defend this country, and they deserve our thanks.

From all of us here at All County Alamo, we say thank you.